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Winnipeggers don't support closing emergency rooms: Poll

“Our premier made a commitment to protect and invest in public services, and cutting public services like closing ERs is the exact opposite.” — Michelle Gawronsky, MGEU President

Winnipeg (07 July 2017)— A new Probe Research poll commissioned by the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU/NUPGE) has found that the majority of Winnipeggers disagree with the Manitoba government's changes to emergency medical services such as closing emergency rooms.

Closing ERs creates concern across communities

“I’m not surprised by the results one bit. Everyone I talk to continues to raise concerns over the changes the government is making,” said Michelle Gawronsky, MGEU President.

The provincial government has announced that Seven Oaks, Concordia, and Victoria hospitals will lose their emergency rooms, while urgent care centers will open at Seven Oaks and Victoria. The Misericordia Health Centre will also lose its urgent care clinic. Once fully implemented, full ER and surgical services will only be available at the Health Sciences Centre, the St. Boniface Hospital, and the Grace Hospital.

The poll was designed and conducted by Probe Research and randomly sampled 600 people living in Winnipeg over the phone.

Key findings include

60 per cent of respondents think the changes will increase ER wait times;

69 per cent of respondents don’t think there are too many ERs; and

54 per cent of respondents don’t support the changes being made to the emergency services.

“We’re not saying no to change, we’re saying slow down and consult with those delivering medical services on the front line,” said Gawronsky. “Our premier made a commitment to protect and invest in public services, and cutting public services like closing ERs is the exact opposite.”

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 370,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. ~ NUPGE